If you want to put a fish pond in your garden, you’ll find that choosing the right pond plants is just as important as how you design the pond itself, and what types of fish you put into it. It’s the plant ecosystem that will determine the health of the pond and that in turn helps provide an environment for happy, healthy fish. Yet you don’t just grab some plants at random and stick them into your pond, as certain types are required and all need to be there.

The first kind of pond plants to provide is a type that provides oxygen. Plants like Anarchis or Cabomba are some examples, but there are many more. What these plants do is to create oxygen in the water that the fish can breathe. They do this better than chemicals, although you can buy those as well if you need them. The plants provide excellent fish pond algae control as well, because they consume the nutrients that algae would normally thrive on; the organic matter that is broken down by the bacteria in the water.

Your pond design should include other types of plants as well, and one of the most popular is water lilies. They root in the soil at the bottom of the pond and their leaves and flowers trail on the surface of the water. These can be chosen for beauty and even to create partial shade for fish, such as koi, that shouldn’t be exposed to direct sunlight. At least 1/3 to 1/2 of the water surface should be left clear, however. You’ll need to research these pond plants to learn which species grow best in the depth of water in your own pond. Gladstoniana, for example, with its very large white blooms, can grow in deep ponds, while Odorata Minor, with its star-shaped flowers, might grow in a depth of 9-14 inches.

Marginal plants, such as Iris, Marsh Marigold and Bog Primula are pond plants that grow, as their name suggests, on the margins, in shallow water and mud. They, too, can help provide shade, and they can give your garden pond a more natural look. As you create your own fish pond, remember that pond stocking involves not just the choosing of fish but also the choosing of plants that will enhance their environment. With the correct choice of plants, your pond can be a healthy place for your fish to live, and a beautiful thing for you to enjoy as well.

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